5. Facebook Can Be Better Than Happiness

Facebook Can Be Better Than Happiness

James Hamblin wrote an article, "Facebook Can Be Better Than Happiness" by questioning the idea if people really do prefer being on Facebook than be happy. He did not tell us who did the study, but in the new study, 82 colleged students were surveyed about if they were happy, or felt lonely in their lives, and how much they used Facebook on their daily basis. They were to score themselves from 1 to 100. "The researchers noted small correlations and concluded that the more the subjects used Facebook, the worse they felt." As Frankl wrote in Man's Search for Meaning, "Being human always points, and is directed, to something or someone, other than oneself—be it a meaning to fulfill or another human being to encounter. The more one forgets himself—by giving himself to a cause to serve or another person to love—the more human he is." So Facebook is providing an invaluable resource for fulfilling the basic human need for social connection. But Hamblin contradicts his idea by explaining his own experience about how he lived in 5 different countries-5 new environments in the last five years.  "If social media makes me lonelier, it's only when I try to use it to "fulfill the basic human need for social connection"—instead of, you know, "getting out there" in the new worlds." His point was concluded in the last paragraph by saying  Facebook probably isn't making you lonely or unhappy, unless you're using it to replace real interactions and things that give life meaning. 

Hamblin's title was a very attention-getting. He first questioned the idea of his title, If people really did prefer being active on Facebook than going out in the real world to be happy. He explained the surveys and the results of average college students, and he also mentioned the percentage records of how many US citizens are feeling lonely lonelier by the year. Then he points out his view on how Facebook is affecting people's emotions. His view contradicts the idea that "Facebook" itself just makes people feel left out and lonely. He states his judegement by exaplaining his personal experience and "theory" that only people would feel lonely if they used online social network as a BASIS in their social life. But that's not true for the majority.  "If social media makes me lonelier, it's only when I try to use it to "fulfill the basic human need for social connection"—instead of, you know, "getting out there" in the new worlds. " is what he said to point out his thinking. I felt that he tried to used common language to comprehend the readers more easily. Since this article is about the most used social network site in the world, many readers who communicate using common laguage would read it. His views and opinions were clearly spoken, and very well wrapped up in the conclusion. Although his idea was not supported very well nor have credibility, he made it seem very reasonable. Overall I think he succeeded in presenting his own theory on his view of Facebook.

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/08/facebook-can-be-better-than-happiness/278705/